Snowberry Founder Soraya Hendesi

Behind the Bottle

Unable to find the pure but active skin care she wanted for herself, Soraya Hendesi set out to create something entirely new - skin care that would make no compromises - not in functionality or safety, nor in the inclusion of optimum quantities of the finest bio active ingredients obtainable anywhere in the world, regardless of cost. She was determined to create an uncomplicated system of natural beauty care that worked because of what it contained, and just as importantly didn't contain, that she could trust absolutely. The outcome is Snowberry, an intensely pleasurable and beneficial indulgence for skin every day.

1). How did you get started in this industry?

In a way it was unavoidable. As a little girl I 'formulated' many concoctions I hesitate to describe as 'skin care,' from the profusion of flowers in our garden. Fortunately, my dear mother and grandmother dutifully applied these offerings and I was greatly encouraged! I became a cosmetician and my interest in skin care that is safe as well as functional, led me towards a blend of natural herbal ingredients and the best that dermatological science can offer. That is how Snowberry Smoothing Eye Serum is a beautiful product that every woman I know finds beneficial. I am unsurprised since the serum combines several highly functional peptides with an extract from the Cannon Wood Tree from South America that together help to reduce the capillary leakage in aging skin that leads to eye bagging.

3). Who/What inspires you?

Most of all, my grandmother, who was a long-time humanitarian working for a United Nations health agency. You will see on the packaging of the Snowberry Cellular Regeneration Night Cream, a lady with a lantern. To me, Maman Touran was my very own Florence Nightingale.

4). Be honest, what beauty products do you use regularly other than your own?

I'm afraid the only anti-aging skin care I will use is Snowberry. But I have to mention another New Zealand skin care brand called Living Nature that makes a lovely lipstick. The skin on the lips is extremely sensitive so I look for products that are very simple and that have very safe and natural ingredients. Otherwise, for cosmetics I tend to 'graze' across too many brands to name.

5). Imagine the future of the beauty industry and give us your prediction of what's to come.

From the perspective of anti-aging skin care, which is what Snowberry is about, I believe there will be an epiphany about the huge importance of safe cleansing and toning for better skin. I recently saw a cleanser from a very well-known brand, the ingredients list for which read like a 'what not to put in any skin care product.' It sells for $5 and I'm unsurprised, but I feel very sorry that so many women do damage to their skin with long-term use of very aggressive products like this one. Beyond that, I believe that more women will look for that blend of Nature and Science that can only do good. 'Natural' by itself will not be enough, but nor will pure science meet many people's need for skin care that matches their own values.

6). Give our customers a beauty insider tip:

Read the ingredients list on your favorite cleanser and toner and spend five minutes on the Internet. Then choose products that contain no anionic surfactants, volatile alcohols or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, but which do contain herbal extracts such as Indian Neem, Inca Inchi, Passion Fruit Oil, Tomato extract and Andiroba Oil, all of which help nourish the skin while protecting the skin's natural barrier function. It may be one of the kindest things you do for your skin.

6.5). In 140 characters or less, give us a beauty tip to Tweet and tell us where to follow you.

Choose a cleanser and toner that actually work to protect your skin's natural barrier function, and follow us at Snowberry Beauty

7). Extra Credit: Write personal reviews for some of the individual products in your line.

Snowberry Smoothing Eye Serum: Skin under the eyes has characteristics not to be found elsewhere. Maturing eye skin tends to lose its firmness and slacken faster than other areas of the face. During this slackening process there is typically a build-up of fat, which hastens the development of 'eye bags.' At the same time, poor lymphatic circulation or drainage and increased capillary permeability, a condition known as edema, contribute to the bagging and sallow appearance of the skin. Quite literally, fluids and fat combine in the under eye skin with disastrous results. With the Smoothing Eye Serum expect to see improvement in the elasticity and tone of the skin around the eyes, plus smoother, less crêpey skin. There are few better ways to turn back the clock!

Snowberry Instant Deep Cleanser: I love this cleanser! Yes, it's expensive, but that's because we've brought together a bouquet of exquisite natural herbal oils that together, do what skin really needs. It removes makeup like magic, but even better, it actively helps to replenish the skin's essential lipid barrier. And if you have combination skin, don't be fooled. Natural herbal oils help to restore the skin's sebum balance. Aggressive cleansers cause your skin to react by producing more sebum.

Snowberry Intensive Renewal Face Serum: After my morning cleansing, I apply the Intensive Renewal Face Serum. The name refers to the fact that the serum contains no less than five peptide complexes including the extraordinary 'BOTOX' pentapeptide-3, all of which work to boost production of the key structural proteins, collagen and elastin, and to relax the expression lines that become the cause of deeper wrinkles. The serum does much more though. I especially like that this anti-wrinkle functionality is enhanced with a blend of beautiful herbal extracts and oils such as Acai, Lingonberry Oil and Olive Oil. Then the humectant Sodium Hyaluronate provides a natural boost to the skin's water retention and Vitamins C and E, and Coenzyme Q10 provide powerful free-radical quenching. And does it work? Independent trials by IDEA Dermatological Institute in France showed an average 30% reduction in wrinkle surface area (and up to 66%) after 28 days.

Snowberry Gentle Remineralising Toner: This is a genuine two-in-one product that I use every morning. It cleanses and tones and like the Snowberry Instant Deep Cleanser, is designed to nourish and protect the skin while doing its job. Many women with blemishes or acne find the Remineralising Toner especially helpful. I especially enjoy the experience of using natural plant saponins from the nut of the Soap Tree for example, used for thousands of years by native peoples for the same purpose. Plant saponins don't have the same foaming action of industrial anionic surfactants, but they clean equally well and completely avoid that harsh and undesirable impact. So, no harsh surfactants, and instead of volatile alcohol, Snowberry's Toner employs a protein extract from the common garden green pea, with a yeast extract that together have superb skin firming and smoothing properties.

Snowberry Everyday SPF15: One of the most distressing trends in skin care is the 'moisturizing SPF.' The American Cancer Society suspects that one of the contributing factors to increased melanoma cancer is the growing use of these products that do not provide proper UV protection. Snowberry's Everyday SPF15 is remarkable for two reasons. First, it's 100% natural and yet it has the same luxurious feel of typical chemical sunscreens, and second, it is certified broad spectrum protection, which means it protects against UVA as well as UVB light. This is the sun protection to wear all year, but if you're spending some intensive time outdoors gain the extra protection from Snowberry's Active Outdoor SPF30. Whatever you do, don't fool yourself. Moisturizers are for moisturizing. Only certified sunscreens can provide the protection you need from harmful UV light.